brown



(N0 Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H. BROWN.

FIBER DIGESTER.

7 No. 366,556. Patented July 12, 1887.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. H. BROWN.

FIBER DIGESTER.

P atented July 1 Z, 1887.

@IDGM llVl/E/l/TOR W R BY ATTORNEY (No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 3-. i

'J. H. BROWN.

FIBER DIGESTER.

No. 366,556. Patented July 12,1887.

'Fflcfb.

WITNESSES C a n //v vnvrog 5y AMMOMUW ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JOHN H. BROYVN, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y.

FIBER-DIGESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 366,556, dated July 12,1887.

Application filed March 19, IP87. Serial No. 231,529. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: I

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fiber-Digesters, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the construction of digesters, so called, to beused in the process of disintegrating ralnie, pita, yucca, and otherfibrous or textile plants or materials by separating the glutinous andother foreign matter from the fiber; and it consists of certain novelfeatures, hereinafter fully described, whereby I obtain an apparatuswhich is especially adapted to the treatment of long fiber and withsuperior effect.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a crosssection of adigester cmbodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a side view thereof,partly in section. Fig. 3 represents a horizontal section thereof. Fig.4 represents a plan or top view thereof. Fig. 5 represents a horizontalsection thereof when made of cylindrical shape.

Similar letters indicate similar parts.

The letter A indicates the body of the digester, which may be square, asshown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, or cylindrical, as shown in Fig. 5,according to the pressure that is to be maintained within the apparatus.Said body A is constructed with outer liquid-distributing chambers, B,and also with a central liquiddistribnting chamber, 0, the latterserving to divide the digester into two chambers, E, both of which aredigesting-chambers.

\Vhen the digester is made square, it is constructed with additionalouter liquid-distributing chambers, D; but when it is made cylindricalsaid additional chambers are omitted.

At the bottom of a digester is a storagechamber, G, for the liquid withwhich the fibrous material is to be treated, and in the example shown inFig. 1 the three distributing-chambers B B O communicate with thestorage-chambers at the lower end, to receive the liquid therefrom. Thecentral distributing-chamber, C, may, however, be closed at the lowerend and receive the proper liquid separately from the storage chamber.The inner walls of the outer distributing-chambers, B B, together withboth walls of the central distrihating-chamber, O, are perforated at ornear the top or bottom, or both, and in the several distributirig-chambers are arranged heatingpipes I, which may be connectedtogether, or may be separate from each other.

The top J of the digester is removable, and is fitted to the bodythereof by a ground joint to insure a tight fit, and for the purpose offastening said top to the body, clamps K, or any other suitable devices,may be used.

Vhcn the apparatus is applied to use, the fibrous material is placed insuitable crates, and thereby introduced into the digestingchambers E E.The top J is then properly secured and the desired treating liquid orgas is supplied to the distributing-chambers B B C under pressure. Steamor other suitable heating medium is now admitted to the heating-pipes I,thereby not only raising the temperature of the liquid in thedistributingchambers, but also increasing the pressure thereof, and asthe liquid escapes through the perforated walls of thedistributing-chambers it thoroughly permeates the mass of material, dueto the relative positions of said walls, they being opposite to eachother. One or more of the distributing-chambers may be shut off from theliquid-supply source, thereby revers ing the current through said closedchamber. The spent liquid and waste matter discharges from the digestingchambers E E through safety-valves N, which are connected to saidchambers at the top and bottom thereof, and to which in turn areconnected waste-pipes O; and the fresh liquid is supplied to the storageor distributing chambers by means of feedpipes P, which are connected toa vessel, Q, (best seen in Fig. 2,) through which the feedpipes mayreceive steam or water, either hot or cold, or gas, said vessel havingsuitable con nections for this purpose. Auxiliary feedpipes I may alsobe connected with digesting-chambers, all of which details are morefully described in a separate application for Letters Patent filedherewith.

If desirable, the top J may be hollow, as shown, and both said top andthe bottom of the digester may be perforated to distribute the desiredtreating-liquid from an upward. and downward direction, the holes ofsaid top ICO and bottom being furnished with plugs to bedistributing-oliambers, substantially as shown removed at pleasure. anddescribed.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure 3. In a digester, thecombination of a cenby Letters Patent, is tral liquid-distributingchamber having per- 20 V 5 1. In a digester, the combination of acenforated walls, outer liquid-distributing chamtral liquid-distributingchamber having perbers having perforated inner walls opposite to foratedwalls, and outer liquid-distributing said' walls of the central chamber,and heatchambers having perforated inner walls op-- ing-pipes arrangedin said chambers, substana posite to said walls of the central chamber,tially as shown and described. 2 IO substantially as shown anddescribed. Signed at New York, in the county of New 2. In a digester,the combination of a cen- York and State of New'York, this 15th day oftral liquid-distributing chamber having per- March, A. D. 1887.

forated walls, outer liquid-distributing cham- JOHN H. BROWN. hershaving perforated inner walls opposite to Witnesses: 15 said walls ofthe central chamber, and a stor- CHAS. I. CORNELL,

age-chamber communicating with said outer CHAS. VVAHLERS.

